Tevez targets start against Nigeria

06 June 2010 11:26

Carlos Tevez is determined to prove to coach Diego Maradona that he should start Argentina's opening World Cup game against Nigeria.

Argentina are blessed with striking options in South Africa and Tevez accepts Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain are currently Maradona's first choice.

The Manchester City star admits Maradona faces a difficult decision over who to start up front and is happy there is such competition for places in the squad.

However, ahead of the game in Johannesburg next Saturday, Tevez has vowed to give his all to show Maradona that he should start the Group B fixture.

"I never had any doubts that I'd be in the squad," Tevez, who struggled to impress in qualifying, told the Sunday Mirror.

"The last time Diego visited me in England we talked about everything, and I kind of knew then that I would be in the final squad. We talked a lot about the tournament, about the facilities in South Africa and so on.

"Diego has said that Higuain and Messi will be the first-choice pair up front. I'm just hoping to show the coach what I can do and that he should be looking at me.

"We have a lot of great ­players, now we just have to use them to make a good team.

"It's wonderful and healthy to have so much competition, with great players like Messi and Higuain. It's not going to be easy for Diego making these decisions, it's going to be difficult.

"I will be trying to prove I should be playing. After that it will be down to Diego to decide who is best to deal with Nigeria."